On Computers: Junior sneezes on your monitor  now what?

Monday

Our LCD boom means you’ll eventually have to clean them. The wrong way can cost you a screen.

I counted. I came up with eight. A friend of mine has 12. Now what?

LCD screens have proliferated like rabbits. They are as common as light bulbs. Everything has them, from our cars to our appliances to our TVs to our computers and cell phones. They’re a great invention, and they do the job cheaply.

First chore is to check the manual for advice. Not all screens are made alike.

In all cases, forget what you know about cleaning glass. The LCD in a computer monitor is a thin layer of plastic. In a TV, it’s imbedded in hard material. Don’t grab the Windex and wash them like a window.

Your traditional household cleaning gear will destroy an LCD. Solvents can ruin the plastic. Even tap water is bad. Its chlorine, salts and minerals will stain and scratch a screen.